Some singers need to be surrounded by a variety of equipment to move people, but this powerful artist simply needs an audience. She is one of those rare songbirds that can effortlessly stimulate sensual, soulful and raw emotions using just her vocal instrument, a voice that you don’t just hear - you feel. Having been influenced by the likes of legendary soul/pop and jazz powerhouses such as Sarah Vaughan, Anita Baker, Donny Hathaway, Bill Withers, Whitney Houston and Aretha Franklin, Abby is not your typical artist who tries to woo a crowd with technical acrobatics or lyrical clichés. Instead, she captivates a crowd using gorgeous melodies and emotionally charged words, all brought to life by the ache and honey in her voice.

Devoted to her craft, Abby has studied classical voice since Junior High school. But it was the introduction to Billie Holiday and Donny Hathaway that taught Abby how to draw people inside her in such a way that you feel her essence. Abby’s music is heart music: “I want to touch people. I wanna make them feel.” Drawing on a wealth of musical influences, Abby’s sound is the alchemy of soul, folk, jazz, gospel, R&B, country, rock, and pop, forging a gem that erases musical boundaries in its making. In fact, one could imagine fans of Anita Baker, Mary J. Blige, Sade, Jeff Buckley, Lizz Wright, Patty Griffin, John Legend, Martina McBride, Keisha Cole, Sheryl Crow, Cassandra Wilson, Norah Jones, Alicia Keys and Mindy Smith nodding together in appreciation after listening to her music.

In a word, Abby Dobson’s music is mesmerizing. A lover of melody and words, Abby has also been deeply influenced by authors, poets and essayists, including Toni Morrison, Alice Walker, J. California Cooper, Emily Dickenson, James Baldwin, Audre Lorde, Patricia Williams, Kimberly Crenshaw and Margo Jefferson. By instinctively blending the musical herbs and spices that have influenced her into her own sonic stew, Abby affords old-school and new-school music lovers alike an opportunity to vibe together in harmony.

Abby has performed throughout New York City to rave reviews at well-known venues like S.O.B’s, The Knitting Factory, The Cutting Room, Joe’s Pub, and the legendary Blue Note. She has been a featured singer/songwriter at the New York Songwriter’s Circle three times, performed on BET’s 106 & Park, was a finalist in the R&B category of the John Lennon Song Writing Competition for her song “Deeply” (which has also been featured on television in “The Shield”, “Jack & Jill” and “Any Day Now”), performed in 98.7 KissFM sponsored shows at the South Street Seaport, and was hailed by 98.7 KissFM as a “rising superstar.” You can also hear Abby Dobson lending her vocals to “Get By” from Talib Kweli’s album “Quality” (Rawkus/MCA).

Abby and her band were Northeast Regional Champions and National Finalists in the 2003 SoulCityCafe Music Quest competition sponsored by Jewel and Soulcitycafe.com (www.SoulCityCafe.com). They have also opened for Kindred, The Family Soul, Javier, Leela James, Ledisi, Dwele, Rahsaan Patterson, Chrisette Michele, Floetry, Robin Thicke and Common. Abby’s song “Unconditionally” also received an Honorable Mention Award in the 2003 USA Songwriting Competition Lyrics Category. Recently, she won BlackPlanet.com's Soul Beach Music Festival's First Annual Competition in 2009 and was featured in GIANT Magazine's September 2009 issue as an artist to watch. She is also featured as an upcoming artist in “Put Your Dreams First: Handle Your [entertainment] Business by music industry expert Thembisa S. Mshaka, published in 2009. Most recently, Abby's song "Born 2 Luv U', is being played on the Soul/R&B station on Music Choice and is available as a digital download at amazon.com.

Abby Dobson has also sung backgrounds for several recording artists, including Talib Kweli, John Legend, Consequence and Urban Mystic. Abby’s music can be found on two compilations both available on iTunes: “The Rooftop: A Live Shot” and “While U Wait” She currently performs with Burnt Sugar The Arkestra Chamber, a New York-based, twenty-plus member ensemble know for improvisatory orchestral performances that combine all manner of vocal, instrumental and electronic music. The group is led by founder and conductor Greg Tate.

Abby’s debut independent project is slated for release in November 2010. This recording project, entitled "Sleeping Beauty: You Are the One You Have Been Waiting On," is a concept record loosely based on a fairytale. An analog girl in a digital world, “Sleeping Beauty” was recorded live to analog tape and features some of the best musicians in the country, including Shelton Garner, Robert Glasper, Nate Jones, Skoota Warner, Wes Mingus, Christian Ver Halen, Marvin Sewell, Gerald Menke, Raymond Angry, Keyon Harrold, Daniel Sadownick, Teodross Avery, Maurice Brown, and Lonnie Plaxico to name a few.

Abby loves sharing her timeless voice and giving back to society, which is why she volunteered to direct a gospel choir, became an advocate for youth and community organizations using her enormous talent as a tool of hope, performed in neighborhood choruses, churches and a host of other social engagements including lending her heartfelt lyrics and melodies to various fundraising events for the Bronx Community College Upward Bound program, Better Youth.org, Lifebeat’s Heart and Voices, The Brotherhood SisterSol, Sista 2 Sista, The Lower Eastside Girl’s Club and the Ronald McDonald House for children living with Cancer.